Energy Efficiency
Understanding Ontario’s Global Adjustment
What Is the Ontario Global Adjustment (GA)? Ontario’s Global Adjustment (GA) is a fee applied to electricity bills to support
October 28, 2024
Kiwi Newton
Articles
Design-build is a modern project delivery method where a single entity—the design-builder—is responsible for both the design and construction phases of a project.
What Is the Ontario Global Adjustment (GA)? Ontario’s Global Adjustment (GA) is a fee applied to electricity bills to support
Introduction As energy demand continues to grow, managing peak loads has become essential for both residential and industrial users. Peak
Our buildings achieve net-zero status by integrating solar arrays and geothermal systems, leveraging their highly efficient building envelopes and substantial thermal mass. Exterior insulation and airtight design reduce heating and cooling needs, while solar panels meet electricity demands with renewable energy.
Geothermal systems provide efficient heating and cooling by using the earth’s stable temperatures. Combined with hydronic heating and cooling elements in the concrete thermal mass, these systems maintain consistent indoor climates with minimal energy use. This integration ensures our buildings exceed energy efficiency standards, offering sustainable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly living spaces.
With high insulating value, special care is taken to limit thermal bridging. Thermal bridging occurs when an exterior element is directly connected to an interior element without any thermal breaks. A prime example is when a balcony is simply a cantilevered extension of the floor slab. With this building detail, the cold concrete balcony is a bridge for your heating energy to leave your building.
Kiwi Newton employs thermally broken balconies and facade mounting to eliminate thermal bridges. Instead of a cantilevered balcony, a precast slab is supported on the exterior of the building via columns or ‘wing walls,’ which are thermally broken and structurally separate from the main building walls.
The Kiwi Precast System is built for energy efficiency, with insulation placed on the exterior of the precast concrete walls. This design allows the concrete to act as a thermal reservoir, using its mass to regulate indoor temperatures.
The concrete absorbs heat during the day and releases it at night, helping maintain stable temperatures inside the building regardless of outdoor conditions. Embedded water lines further enhance this process, circulating heated or cooled water through the structure to provide consistent temperature control. This approach reduces energy consumption and operational costs while creating a comfortable, eco-friendly environment.
Kiwi Newton specializes in constructing buildings that meet the principles of Passive House design:
Superinsulated envelopes to reduce heat loss
Airtight construction to prevent energy leaks
High-performance glazing for thermal efficiency
Thermal-bridge-free detailing to stop energy loss
Heat recovery ventilation for fresh air without heat loss
The international Passive House (Passivhaus) standard requires strict energy performance metrics:
Space heat demand: max 15 kWh/m² annually or 10 W/m² heating load
Airtightness: pressurization test result of 0.6 ACH at 50 Pa
Primary Energy Demand: max 120 kWh/m² annually
These demanding standards ensure minimal heating and cooling energy usage.
Kiwi Newton prioritizes energy efficiency through advanced building envelope design. Our system features continuous exterior insulation, preventing thermal bridging and ensuring optimal temperature regulation. Precast concrete panels serve as both a moisture and vapor barrier, maintaining durability and energy performance. Connections between panels are carefully sealed to create an airtight structure, reducing energy loss.
Windows are embedded within the insulation to prevent heat transfer, while thermally broken façade clips and window systems further enhance thermal efficiency. These design elements combine to meet the highest standards for Net-Zero and Passive House buildings, ensuring long-term energy savings and environmental sustainability.
41 Massey Road
Guelph Ontario, N1H 7M6
Phone: 519-822-5281
Fax: 519-822-6159
Email: Email
2169 Hendersonville Rd
Arden, NC 28704
Phone: 519-822-5281
Fax: 519-822-6159
Email: Email
© 2025 All Rights Reserved.
